1 Application

In this year's applicants, I belong in the minority. Is not much for law school JD Chinese students, is the rare JD applicants in the engineering students. When I applied for, with no ready-made examples, so also passes through many detours, wrote in the application of my experience, hope for the future of the applicants to help.

Many engineering students dare not or would not apply to law school, always feel that the law school is show off literary skill of heresy, actions speak louder than words be misfits and engineering. In fact, in my opinion, is the collection of legal logic, don't look at the legal papers written as if it were raining flowers, roots are closely interlinked, clear logical reasoning. In the country by science and engineering students education does not lack the training, read law does not than the students of liberal arts has what disadvantage. Furthermore, to foreign reading through into the country in the domestic, the general qualifications are not bad, applying to law school and what is not particularly difficult. Think of this years turtles less popular, in turn the financial America also squeeze head, a choice is not always what bad things.

For the school of law, see also the main two hard indicators: Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and the scientific product. These two indexes, you can decide to apply for the school grades, but finally is able to successfully get admission, comprehensive depends on various factors.

Previous experience in law school applications usually LSAT scores as the most important factor, is generally believed that if admitted to 170, will be admitted to some of the top 14 School of law. If we can get to 175 or higher, Harvard is very promising. From the calendar year admit a circumstance to look, the two statements are not wrong. Top 14 Northwestern and Georgetown are famous on LSAT scores, more than 170 of the LSAT is almost guaranteed admission. But Harvard because of enrollment is numerous, can only rely on the LSAT as the main standard to measure the students. However, only LSAT is not enough to knock the other law school, but in recent years with the rise of LSAT achievement, diversification of the admission criteria for the school is more. The school not only on these standardized scores, soft factors are more important for the "" (soft factors). In addition, China students on standardized tests have outstanding performance, in recent years the LSAT ultra high layered not poor, much to the LSAT "New Oriental" trend. After a few years on the LSAT in many Chinese applicants talent showing itself, I'm afraid is more and more difficult.

Undergraduate credit product is another hard index application. Since 2007, Law School Admission Council (LSAC) began to allow foreign students will also undergraduate transcripts sent to LSAC unified authentication. For most applications, this Chinese person, is a sad news. The overall score standard, the more strict than USA university. So the transcripts after LSAC after conversion, the result is usually too horrible to look at. For example, Tsinghua percentile scores, if in accordance with the standard LSAC converted into four points, an average of 90 could only convert to 3.6. Many colleges and universities in the USA has 30% - 40% scores. It is not known whether US News would be foreign students credit product in its law school rankings. If unfortunately in words, that some law school will probably refuse some qualified foreign applicants, in order to ensure its ranking is not affected.

The school's reputation is an often overlooked factor, and America law school at this point is the famous snobbish, absolute priority graduates in conditions close to. The new list Open Yale Law School, the graduate school basically is Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Stanford circulation, occasional State University can let a person shine at the moment. Chinese students have the same problem. Before the law of international exchange is not much, the foreigner to the domestic school quality no hearts at the end. In recent years, frequent exchanges, America law school to home school rankings generally have some understanding. From the school brand, the students of Peking University Law School in USA most widely distributed, large, well-known far ahead. Tsinghua University in recent years international exchanges have good reputation, is also very good. Other such as Fudan, National People's Congress and the political and legal, are very recognized schools abroad. Some professional institutions, also applying to law school tradition, such as the China Foreign Affairs University, there are several graduates at Yale Law school. Although from a statistical point of view, Chinese read JD in American student sample is too small, also very difficult to have a definite conclusion, but at least in my understanding of the situation, the next few years, the domestic university graduation may be one of the prerequisites for the top law school.

If you are unfortunate enough to have the above conditions, it can only be in other aspects in the work:

1 social experience. USA students on this play tricks can let people see things in a blur. I've seen to Africa when AIDS volunteers, to America poor communities when primary school teacher, has the Brazil forest wild animal rescue, even just back from Afghanistan USA soldier. Anyway, as long as the public welfare social experience, has the help to the application. Indeed, these American youth students also not what the ideal, most is to apply the law school resume look better, a graduation have not betrayed the revolution looked back to the firm's arms. Chinese most students are just out of school has, at most is also to a company, the firm practice for several months, and those fancy experience than to be inferior by comparison. If you really want to rely on social experience of the game, I persuade you or to go to Tibet to teach a year or so, at least it looks decent.

2 letters of recommendation. Professor of law school, China, no academic influence in the world, but in recent years and foreign law school welcome visitors and see them off, and many famous professors can also mix a familiar face. Especially in Beijing Beijing University, Tsinghua University and foreign and, the law school is said to have good relationship. There are several domestic major suit Professor, known as the recommended student tradition, if can get their interest, may be able to apply for help. Another recommendation letter from community leaders, this is completely to see everyone's good fortune. 8, 90 years for law school students is China juniors of high-ranking officials, leading the side translation, or the central station English reporters, some really can get celebrity recommendation. It is said that Gao Zhikai classmate is recommended by Dr. Kissinger in the Yale Law school. For such a legend, I can only send twelve respect.

3 personal statement. The personal statement is not particularly important in the application of PhD, can apply for JD is very important. The lawyer is rely on words to eat the occupation, practicing his essays are written is bad, how to write legal documents after those ghost also cannot read?

To write a personal statement, the most taboo to recall the past. While many applicants, just like the old Yatani Ko news out of. At the beginning will talk about the glorious deeds before the age of 10, or that of his parents teach untiringly. In short I determined to do great things, Kuangfu justice, curb the violent and assist the weak, now finally got the chance to learn the law, to serve the motherland, I hope you help to realize the great dream of innocence juvenile. (I'm exaggerating, but you control your personal statement to see, Is it right? Beginning is When I was a child...)

Another kind is listed dry cargo, daily bookkeeping, typical for "three years ago, I do a project for a company, the harvest; two years ago, I helped professor so and so made some research, sent an article. "This style of writing PhD applications is also OK, used to writing college application documents, it is too simple. School of law of value, not just your past good, more important is your future potential. In the same space, should be on your ideals and beliefs more attention, rather than simply repeat your cv.

China student application, also used to emphasize their "Chinese background". But in the Chinese America law school is already over-represented minority, and now, background application also increased significantly. And too much emphasis on their "Chinese background" I am afraid it is difficult to achieve the desired effect. When Harvard and telephone interview, I also specifically asked about Chinese applicants, the director of "for their China" this factor doesn't seem too cold, but to my background praise. Since the early 90's, although from the China applicants grow with each passing day, but Chinese JD number admitted to the law school, and no obvious increase. From my understanding of the situation, appears to be Yale, Harvard, Stanford this several every year the school admission Chinese students every year, but only a quota. But unfortunately, these a few schools tend to crash, so the total number of school places will fail. Anyway, China students because of the lack of comparable experience and qualifications, in the law school admissions will be considered more risky choice. So, at the time of application, we compared with native applicants, is not up to much advantage.

2 my application

Many people have asked me, why to apply to law school? In fact, the reason is very simple, I don't want to go that way China students road. I've seen a lot of young people across the sea, to American, but in order to make a living, the youth time in the lab, finally whether you like it or not, have to postdoctoral as a crucial occupation. And do not say this to choose whether or not to realize their own value, even, this choice is too single. Beyond the ivory tower choice so much, so many years, so many smart people ah, why not make a few new road to?

I think I did not study ability, also don't want to put myself into this cannot choose the impasse. I think the road is always the wider and wider, and the PhD oriented but only a narrow lane. So I decided not to read PhD.

Don't want to read PhD, it must read what Doctor maintain a facade. This year undergraduate master like a dog, going all over the floor, only, can shake. The domestic academic devalues quickly, how do I have to mix a "dog.". Besides the parents there, dressed to send out of school, two dingy back, folks are not good as before. I make a move, think if you do not read the PhD, then try to law school JD. JD graduated options than PhD can be more widely.

JD this degree, in the final analysis is not the doctor, although the name is Juris Doctor, but the research, it is too far, the most is the occupation of Dr. "". Although USA law school professor is basically JD graduation, but the domestic university but does not recognize the Doctor, later to take JD mixed domestic academic circles, I'm afraid there is little shabby. (on the contrary, if you accidentally mixed up some official appointment, it can not use care what the doctor's degree, even the professor title is door-to-door.) I'm on the academic circles also very not cold, so don't get these domestic social recognition, I don't particularly care. In addition, JD is not a loss of the sale, this year the New York law firm JD graduates of the price has risen to 145000 ocean, also be out of order bonus. My fingers and toes just over money, had to sigh, although I aim high, do not and this pile of dollars not go.

So, I have the ambition to prepare for the JD. I start from the LSAC website (Www.lsac.org) including a bunch of LSAT questions, spent my hundreds of the ocean. Then go to Amazon shopping madness, moved back to a pile of application tips. Everything is ready, I to be eager for a fight, waiting for the opportunity to display one's skill to the full.

Perhaps God has eyes (more likely is the heaven no eye), I take the LSAT always when the help. The first night boring, do a set of 92 years of LSAT, check the answer: 178. (LSAT score is 180178 in every year more than 100000 candidates, is about 50.) I was in the corridor straight struggle, thought I the LSAT wizards, not law school exam is a waste. Later that year. I was fooled, in recent years the LSAT exceeded the more difficult, the difficulty is not 92 years. But that is another story, anyway I was confidence, feel this is easy, capture an enemy easily.

Later found, applying to law school also toss for PhD, there are a pile of forms of brightly coloured schools, I also specifically back to Beijing for undergraduate deputy director signed the "Dean Dean's Certificate certificate". Letter of recommendation is also struggling, several teachers find the too major suit, not business, is not empty. Take down LSAT performance just passable, 175, barely meet the safety standards of Harvard. The most headaches is the personal statement, schools also require different, a match a tricky. I linger for two months, even a personal statement didn't linger. Application to the end, is then decline, three and exhaust, in December, I was totally do not apply for the enthusiasm and longing.

In short, my application is up early, catch a late set. Before the computer too much, to the implementation of the plan but not. Application documents delayed, until mid January in the drawer to sleep. I stumbled, all don't know what to do, until one day an Internet search, only to find that something. The original law school admission notice are almost, if I don't apply, then practice did not eat the leftovers. I this just panic God, even spent a week my personal statement to toss. Those few days to write a personal statement is written in a murky sky over a dark earth, he again felt sick. Finally had to send students to modify the semi-finished products, and also their nausea at.

Law school admission is rolling basis, also is the first trial, if this year for good quality or admissions estimation errors, it is likely the as of the date of application of the admission quota exhausted. This year the Chicago School of law is the emergence of this situation, in February the admission notice has been finished, in January after the application for a student, have not practiced to examine opportunities. I only at the end of 1 to apply for a post, apparently to pay the application fee. The results until April, just got a letter from Chicago, very cordial tone, say your material we have got, excellent conditions, but unfortunately, we this year's admission work has ended, you Is it right? Next year continue to think about our school? But I was at Harvard at the bottom, then similarly cordial rejected it; otherwise, I am afraid to be depressed.

Speaking of Harvard, Harvard Dean of admissions for the year. The new government took office three fire, the first fire changed admission procedures, are required for each phone interview applicants. This is great disorder under heaven, everyone with a phone call, see a strange number are accelerated heartbeat. I apply for the relatively late, and when I interview is the late March. I was in New Haven, walking down the street when I answer the phone, then the streets and noisy, plus tension, received a mobile phone after the first 3 minutes Leng is to don't understand what he was saying. I had to face and the director of admissions there greeting, a rush to the nearest indoor places, several minutes to return to normal, and then a mad Kan Kan, call both halo. A few days later, the admission notice telephone Ruqierzhi, when Harvard has enrolled more than 700 students, I am the last few admitted applicants in one of a normal batch. I hold a cold sweat, dark muse, I this time is really "mountains".

Did not think of more "mountains" still behind. Yale and Harvard application is mailed, but until the end of April, Yale and Harvard have no action, there has a decided. Yale relied on their own major suit, review material is surprisingly slow, no matter how I harassment, just tell me the material under review. At that time, Yale is believed to exist everywhere, but I still is one of the few survivors. I really don't give up, give my recommendation (two professors at Yale Law School) wrote two letters, very sad expression on Yale's faithful I. But now is the flower of love, has no intention of running water, if your Yale not righteousness, I only a talented man finds his ability unrecognized, cheap your friend at Harvard. Dared worked, April 30th, is the answer the last day at Harvard, Yale admission notice it.

Harvard and Yale, hundreds of years of fighting. Yale in most aspects of fall at Harvard Law School, but in a few years, this ranking is always better than Harvard high. But in popular culture, symbol of Harvard Law School or law school. Don't you see "love story", the hero and heroine dying, in the school of law of lingering? Don't you see "Legally Blonde", the heroine of the battlefield scheme against each other, is also a Harvard Langdell Hall? As for the "love in Harvard", it is needless to say, the whole drama played the Harvard law school brand, lure I specially went to Harvard for a Korean beauty - is certainly not found.

Spent two years in New Haven, I Anthomaniac to Yale Law School has long. So, although Yale in the admission when our appetite, and finally I proceed without hesitation from it.

3 application materials

My personal statement is based on Forster (Frost) a poem opened the first: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-- I took the one less traveled by. (to tell the truth, this paragraph of word cheesy, pseudo personal independence of conduct for aspiring young people are using it, please do not use...)

Since in such a sour poem beginning, Kanguan estimation can imagine how I have no shame to play, self proclaimed. Anyway, the back is a quack, expressed his disdain for the infinite materialistic mammonism, devoted to save the great cause of human. Although I this a few years daze, also did not find a direction, but the essence is absolutely pure in heart for the youth, the school if you don't mind, close to exercise it, I graduated a greatly promising.

When the acid strength is insufficient, I saw Martin Luther King I Have a Dream. This speech is powerful, rhetoric, more filled with an idealistic optimism. I think it is the ideal style law school personal statement. Now in retrospect, feel this speech mission composition too much, and the personal statement self-examination theme doesn't fit. But then the self-examination cannot self into Proust's remembrance of things past. The application documents or write some good passion.

But to finish the first draft, feel acid incomparable, did not write where jiyangwenzi, somewhat like the literary youth be contrite and reform oneself, is a simple image loss in engineering man. Hesitate repeatedly, the few looked dazzling GRE vocabulary are converted into the vernacular, suddenly feeling comfortable many. Then in the teachers and students to change the recommendation for release, but the total some carving of the gas, not so smooth and natural. Fortunately, there's not much time left, I didn't work on me that break the thinking, finally took the semi-finished products made up.

To tell you the truth, a letter of recommendation is my killer. Two professors and two letters of recommendation from Yale Law School (one of which is the double hire, environmental science is my master's tutor), another letter from the dean of the school of environment, is also a graduate of Yale Law school. I used to be lost to all sense of shame, often late assignments, class loves the limelight, OK also and the teacher noisy quarrel, do not want to mix a familiar face to. Fortunately, my teachers are a lot of adults, the same level as sb. with me, and probably also want to put me to go, so say nice things about me in my letter of recommendation, estimate I saw all blush.

How can the teacher quarrel? In fact, is also a chance, one day my tutor is more than 100 people, about WTO and environmental policy. He is also a smooth estimate that, the economy (economy) and country (National) mixed with said, motionless on the "Countries like Hong Kong... ", I don't know what's wrong, jump up and healthy look to protest:" Hong Kong is not a country. Hong Kong has never been a country. "(Khan, this is not a secondary school texts in scene,...) My tutor is one Leng, probably thought this little friend is the legend of the Chinese young cynic, Untouchables untouchables, quickly changed his tune. One result, I fame, a school famous track mindid, even when the first major suit, dare and in the young tiger. In fact, in retrospect, I probably is that breakfast is choking, gas not sprinkle. Strongly not recommend you to copy, as long as the teacher not to despise, after writing that is better. Later and mentor familiar, I am more and more become aggravated, motionless on the right spot, issued letters to tutor pick. Oh, my teacher and I feel shy estimation attack, always very patiently reply interpretation. When application, thanks to his four referrals and great help, otherwise I wouldn't have the successful application results.

Other application materials will not be what fancy, follow the prescribed order to fill in a form. Awards and experience on various domestic colleges and universities abroad widespread mistrust, so fill more than is in vain. There are empty or learn more about American law school life now, don't wait for admission to think one foot, the gap is too big.

4 personal background

In 2006, Yale University School of forestry and environmental studies graduate course, for all honor, including the three law school curriculum
In 2004 the Department of environmental science and engineering Tsinghua University graduate, credit product 90.6

LSAT 175 (99.6 percentile)

Yale's campus paper award award, as well as some
Outstanding graduates, Tsinghua university scholarship, and some

Recommendation.

Yale University law school professor of two letters of recommendation
Yale University School of environment, a letter of recommendation
Professor a the Yale University School of environment letters of recommendation

Practice: the NPC Environmental and resources protection, the State Environmental Protection Administration, USA Natural Resources Protection Association (NRDC), and TA number

The result of the application:
Yale Law School, admitted, scholarship 27600 USD/year, attending
Harvard Law School, admitted, scholarship 28900 USD/year, declined
Stanford Law School, admitted, declined
Columbia Law School, waitlisted, withdrawn
University of Chicago Law School, waitlisted, withdrawn
NYU Law School, admitted, declined

5 scholarships and loans

Law school tuition is notoriously expensive, three years down the line, the total cost of nearly $200000, this is a huge sum of money for the most Chinese speaking. A lot of law school applicants are worrying about tuition fees, I am no exception. After that apply to Yale and Harvard, the school scholarships and loans will cover all expenses. Yale scholarship even year back to China visit costs. This is also reflected USA law school in two stage differentiation. The top law schools, the students more generous, tuition loans do not have to worry about. The poor law school, more rely on tuition support operation, so the students have more stingy. It is easy to understand, good school days when lawyers, natural money also loans, such as fortune, will take the initiative to make donations to schools. Poor school students will not find work, in case of slipped back to, then the debt can not Daleshuipiao?

Yale, Harvard, Stanford to Need-based scholarship, as long as your family difficulties, loans will have scholarship supplement. Chinese mostly belongs to the American standards under "financial difficulties", so can usually get the highest award "". In fact, this and the quality of applicants without any contact, but the general policy of the school of law. If such "the highest scholarship" on your resume to show off, rather unkind.

Most other law school in Merit-based scholarship, in order to attract outstanding applicants. For example, Columbia Hamilton, Virginia Levy and Michigan Darrow, the scholarship amount is large, and some even can cover part of the cost of living, but also unusually fierce competition this scholarship. If can get these awards, usually will be ranked higher. Other schools, so, you may also need to consider whether it is worthwhile to the scholarship and give a better school.

Most of the students go on to law school had to rely on loans, will subsidize part interest in some schools, loan interest rates at around 5%. Commercial loan interest rate is now close to 9%. Just imagine, if all on loan, 20 years, every months of pressure owing on the loan at more than $1300, for the future is also ready to return to work for the students, it is a not a small figure. Fortunately, the top law school has all kinds of "free owing on the loan project" (Loan Forgiveness Program), such as Yale, if you post graduation income below $80000, then the school will help you to repay part of the loan; if your annual income is in 40000 the following, then all the loans are to undertake by the school. In this way, students have more freedom in the choice of work will be, not because of pressure owing on the loan to foreign firms.

6 choose the school of law

American law school is called Top 3, Top 6, and Top 14 say. Top 3 is Yale, Harvard and Stanford, the three schools from 80 time since he took the first three place ranking in the school of law. Top 6 is YHS plus Columbia, Chicago and NYU, the six schools have several years not moved to nest in the top six positions. Top 14 also includes Michigan, Virginia, Cornell, UPenn, Georgetown, Berkeley, Northwestern and Duke, the top fourteen is always a permutation and combination. Law school level significantly, the employment of a large gap. The best firms usually only recruit top students top colleges and universities, and if the university one is graduated from general words, even more outstanding, may not cross into some firms threshold. As for teaching or in the development of government, law school brand also for future promotion is closely related to. Considering the law school, the expensive tuition fees, please hold the attitude of not to choose at random, to aim at higher ranked the law school.

The top law schools, Yale has the advantage of small size, so in all kinds of per capita rankings are cheap, the perennial first row US News in law school. After the age of 90, Yale source has also been greatly improved, every year by the Yale, Harvard also admitted students, nearly 80% will eventually abandoned Harvard and select Yale. School of law alumni in the most famous Clinton couples (they were classmates at Yale Law School), Ford president, as well as earlier President Taft.

Harvard is the law school's Big Mac, three times the size of enrollment is close to Yale, JD each year more than 550 people. Large scale also has great benefits, such as alumni network is extremely developed. Now USA 1/10 Senator Harvard Law School graduates, nine Supreme Court justices in six also from Harvard, coupled with too many to count the dean of the law school and the partner, it is no wonder that Harvard always boasts that he is a "legal metropolis" (Legal Metropolis).

The remaining Top 6 school can be divided into two kinds, one kind is similar to Yale, go small and fine line, students after graduation by development to the political and academic circles, such as Stanford and Chicago; another kind is similar to Harvard, large scale, students, after graduation to firms earn money, such as Columbia and NYU. All the features of this classification of course can not cover the school, such as Stanford graduates will have a strong tradition of entrepreneurship, and the NYU Public Interest Law (public law) also has distinguished, but overall, school size and geographical location determines the school atmosphere, and these factors are difficult to change in a short period of time.

Some schools other I is not very understanding, so can't comment. It seems Columbia and Duke on China students has always been more friendly, Duke or eighty's first recruit students Chinese law school. In recent years, NYU, Northwestern and Michigan also recruited many Chinese students. If you want to avoid and YHS crash, then the school should have a lot of applications.

The 7 last words

Said so much good law school, finally have to pour pour of. These are our understanding of lawyers, most of it comes from USA film and television. The inside of the lawyers, a suit in court debate, upper lip gun, speak in excitement, better power and prestige. But in real life, lawyers, most have done little but the paperwork, maybe a year not to judge and met a few times. If you went to law school to be like a lion to make court litigation law, so please think twice. Chinese make litigation lawyers in American, both cultural differences, success also has disadvantages, language, largely depends not on your efforts.

Similarly, the law school's employment, can not be too optimistic. In recent years China JD students graduate prospects are bright, the top law school Chinese most students found a good job in the American best law firms. But, to be vigilant in peace time to think, a few years ago, LLM students do not have both at home and abroad is very popular? Now, Harvard's LLM didn't return as the assistant? Now a large number of troops to apply for JD (including me this halfway decent jobs), who can guarantee that three five years after your graduation, JD employment situation still good?

For me this is non legal professional applicants, may also ask myself, I really for law school? Some people regard law school well said such as heaven, someone put the law school goes like hell. How can the law school, I'm afraid you can only experience. If you happened to be in the American reading, the harm to the university law school choose a course? Even in a few lessons, also can experience a lower school learning atmosphere. If you are at home, why don't you borrow the book case book, selected chapters, make notes? If the USA law school did not personally know, only relying on the word online, took three years of youth, $two hundred thousand into them, don't you think the risk is too big?

In addition, also don't want too sacred prestigious law school. When I was in the four application, also had America Harvard Yale consecrated, fantasy if life with a halo of the elite, will be how to glory. Later at the Yale, found it is a change of environment, keep on studying. Is that a little elite Tsinghua hit only sense, soon all gone. In fact, no matter what the schools, graduates in the little-known always most, if not properly adjust their own state of mind, have grandiose aims but puny abilities, will only make others laugh.

So, please try to hold relaxed attitude to apply, because this is not what to change the fate of the key. Carefully prepared, but do not have what unrealistic fantasy of the school of law. Although to choose the most suitable for their own road, always have their own success.